St Kilda Sharks no longer has a VFL Women’s team but it’s all systems go at the Peanut Farm

ST KILDA Sharks are positioning themselves as a ‘destination club’ for players looking to go on to VFL Women’s and AFL W.

St Kilda Sharks pulled out of the VFL Women’s and shift their focus to a “community club’’.

THE St Kilda Sharks may have lost their VFL Women’s team, but the message from the club is clear. It’s play on.

The Sharks reached the preliminary final of the state league competition last season, falling to eventual premiers Darebin Falcons by five points.

But they decided to shift their focus to a “community club’’ during a restructure that took in Casey Demons, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs, Williamstown and the NT Thunder.

The bulk of their senior team has since moved to other VFL W teams, but kept St Kilda as a “home club’’ and will play there when not selected higher up.

The Sharks will have two sides this year, with the seniors coached by club great and former president Keryn Ralph.

They are looking for a reserves coach.

Ralph steered the Division 1 Sharks to the South Eastern Women’s Football League Division 1 grand final last year.

“We’re embarking on a different journey … and I’m really looking forward to challenging the playing group and myself again in 2018,’’ Ralph said.

“The St Kilda Sharks have been involved in women’s football at the highest level for over 25 years now and we’re really confident that we can continue to play a big role in 2018 at community level. We’ll be working really hard behind the scenes and on the training track to help develop the club both on and off the field, so we can continue to be a destination club going forward.’’

Ralph said there had been another influx of new players as women inspired by the AFL W competition turned their hand to football.

She said she expected the reserves team (Division 3) to consist primarily of first-year players.

President Tasma Ritchie said the Sharks were “focused on positioning ourselves as the destination club for players transitioning through juniors, seniors and into the VFL W/AFL W competitions in the future’’.

Anyone interested in coaching the Division 3 Sharks can contact Tasma Ritchie on 0417 551 882.